Using trains to go from London to Brindisi (Italy) and then Ferry to Greece - anyone done this - please share knowledge and route

[iwantavuvezela]

I would love to go to Greece this summer - and was thinking of taking a couple of days to take the train down to Brindisi and then catch the ferry to Corfu. (perhaps fly back )

I am looking at some train sites to try and work out if you book trains up front - or just book as you go along, and how much it would cost. I can see there is a Euro rail ticket but that is quite expensive but does allow for unlimited travel for a certain amount of days.

Has anyone done this and had a route in mind - would love some inspiration and guidance around this.

Would be travelling with two early teens.

You need to look at seat61.com. that will tell you everything you need to know about the route. I have got the train to Italy many times, alright although only once went as far south (to Bari and then ferry to Dubrovnik).

I doubt it would be cheaper to get any kind of interrailing pass, but Eurostar and European trains are always cheaper the sooner you book them.

Thank you Janek - will look at seat61.com

Can I ask you when you booked the train to Italy - did you pre-book the different legs - where there any overnight parts to Italy that you would recommend

I did this route as part of an interrailling trip over about 4 weeks... London-Amsterdam-Belgium-Paris-South of France-Monaco-Milan-Venice-Florence-Rome-Brindisi-Corfu... but this was a long while ago! Rome-Brindisi was overnight and Brindisi-Corfu was overnight.

Seat61 is great and will set out the different ticket types and routes. Buying train tickets online for Italy is easy.

Didn't the Durrells go that way? In the book, not the tv series. It's a long time since I read it, so don't remember how much detail there was. But it'll be something for your holiday reading list!

When we went to Bari/Dubrovnik we got the sleeper train from Paris to Rome. That train no longer exists, but we have used the Thello sleeper from Paris to Milan (actually goes to Venice, but Milan is where we get off). I think the sleeper cars (1-3 beds) are still okay, but the last time we got a couchette (4-6 beds) the sheets were disposable ones and were much more inconvenient. It really put me off and we usually get a day train nowadays.

Having said that, I believe the Thello trains have been refurbished since I last used them.

I have just had a look at seat 61 - i notice he no longer recommends the sleeper train to milan, although for other routes he does recommend sleepers.

if you are travelling from somewhere in the UK to london to catch the eurostar it may well be worth getting a family railcard - it gives adults 30% off their tickets and under 16s 60% off theirs. they cost about £30 (although there are often discounts of 10% available) and depending where you are travelling from you may well more than make up the cost of it in the one journey.

I took the Thello to Venice and back in November. I had a cabin but the couchettes looked fine too. It was fun.
Leave plenty of time for the return leg- my train was 2.5 hours late getting into Paris.